Donald Alexander CHISHOLM

CHISHOLM, Donald Alexander
Don passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of August 4, 2004 with his wife Marilyn by his side and is lovingly remembered by his children Leslie and Andrew. Don was born on May 7, 1927 and grew up in the Upper Beaches of Toronto, graduating from Adam Beck and Malvern High School. He attended the University of Toronto after the war with many of the veterans at the Ajax Campus and graduated with a BA of Sc in 1949. He then went on to obtain an MA and PhD in Physics in 1950 and 1952. He joined Bell Telephone Laboratories in Murray Hill, New Jersey in 1953 and went on to become one of the youngest Directors in April of 1964. In May of 1968 he joined Bellcomm Inc. as Managing Director of Systems Studies working on projects involved in the Apollo Space Mission. He joined Northern Electric's main laboratories in Ottawa in June 1969 and in 1971 became President of the new company, Bell Northern Research (BNR). Under his leadership BNR grew into a creative, innovative powerhouse that would make telecommunications history. He was referred to as the 'Father of Digital World'. He steered the introduction of Nortel's DMS Central Office Switching System and the Meridian line of digital private branch exchanges. In September 1976 he became Chairman of the Board of BNR and Executive Vice President of Northern Telecom Limited.

In 1987 Don was presented with the Julian C. Smith Medal for achievement in the development of Canada and either chaired or served on committees for the Science Council of Canada, Ontario Research Foundation, Algonquin College, IEEE and several universities. He was awarded honorary degrees from the University of Waterloo, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, Université du Quebec and the University of Toronto. Dr. Chisholm (call me Don) was credited with creating an atmosphere of intellectual freedom which attracted some of the industry's most innovative and talented people. Please raise a glass to those exciting wonderful first days.

WELL DONE DON
There will be a private family service and in lieu of flowers, please give to a charity of your choice.